TRAGEDY IN FLAT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 251, 14 June 1932, Page 5

TRAGEDY IN FLAT

(Press Assn.-

WOMEN'S INTEREST WHEN ACTRESS TRIED FOR MURDER CASE FOR PROSECUTION

— By Telegranli — O -pynght).

LONDON, Mondayt Crowds of fashionably dressed women formed a queue outside the W'estminister Police Court yesterday, when Mrs Elvera Dolores Barney, an actress, and the daughter of Sir John Mullens, was eharged with the murder of Mr. Michael Stephen, the son df a bank manager. The prosecuting counsel related how the neighbours early in the morning heard Mrs Barney scream: "Get out of my house; I hate you; I will shoot you." They then heard shots and cries of anguish, Mrs Barney exclaiming: "I love you so, chicken, come back. IT1 do anything you ask me." A doctor found Mrs Barney kneeling beside a body kissing it and saying, "I love you." She was in evident ,distress. Mrs Barney's statement to the police was that she quafcrelled with Stephen ahout a woman. He attempted to take a revolver from her, and the weapon went off during the struggle. Sir B. H. Spilsbury (hon. pathologist for thie Home Office) would give evidence that it was not impossible, but extremely improhable, for the wound to have been caused accidentally or for the deceased to have shot himself. A gun expert would give evidence in support of the theory that it was impossible for the deceased to pull the trigger and inflict a wound of this character and in such a position. The Crown was also tendering a second charge of shooting at Stephen with intent to do grievous bodily harm on May 19. Accused was remanded till Saturday, June 18'. ! • - The dead body of Michael Stephen was found in the luxurious flat of Mrs Barney at Kensington. He had been shot in the' chest. A brother of deceased stated that the latter's debts had been paid frequently by his father. Michael had denied living with Mrs Bafney, wh'ose husharid is in the United States. The tragedy is stated another result of notorious night life in drinkihg and dance dens frequerited by well- i to-da people on the friiige of society.